Hymns and Spiritual Songs | Page 6

the charms of nature then
So hopeless to salvation prove?

Can hell demand, can heaven condemn
The man whom Jesus
deigns to love?
2 The man who sought the ways of truth,
Paid friends and neighbours
all their due,
(A modest, sober, lovely youth)
And thought he
wanted nothing now.
3 But mark the change! thus spake the Lord,
"Come, part with earth
for heaven to-day,"
The youth astonish'd at the word,
In silent
sadness went his way.
4 Poor virtues that he boasted so,
This test unable to endure;
Let

Christ, and grace, and glory go
To make his land and money sure.
5 Ah foolish choice of treasures here!
Ah fatal love of tempting gold!

Must this base world be bought so dear?
Are life and heaven so
cheaply sold?
6 In vain the charms of nature shine,
If this vile passion govern me:

Transform my soul, O love divine,
And make me part with all for
thee.
Hymn 1:24.
The rich sinner dying, Psalm 49. 6 9. Eccl. 8. 8.
Job 3.
14 15.
1 In vain the wealthy mortals toil,
And heap their shining dust in vain,

Look down and scorn the humble poor,
And boast their lofty hills
of gain.
2 Their golden cordials cannot ease
Their pained hearts or aching
heads,
Nor fright nor bribe approaching death
From glittering roofs
and downy beds.
3 The lingering, the unwilling soul
The dismal summons must obey,

And bid a long a sad farewell
To the pale lump of lifeless clay.
4 Thence they are huddled to the grave,
Where kings and slaves have
equal thrones;
Their bones without distinction lie
Amongst the heap
of meaner bones.
The rest referred to Psalm 49.
Hymn 1:25.
A vision of the Lamb, Rev 5. 6-9.
1 All mortal vanities, be gone,
Nor tempt my eyes, nor tire my ears,

Behold amidst th' eternal throne
A vision of the Lamb appears.
2[Glory his fleecy robe adorns,
Mark'd with the bloody death he bore;


Seven are his eyes, and seven his horns,
To speak his wisdom and
his power.
3 Lo, he receives a sealed book
From him that sits upon the throne:

Jesus, my Lord, prevails to look
On dark decrees, and things
unknown.]
4 All the assembling saints around
Fall worshipping before the Lamb,

And in new songs of gospel-sound
Address their honours to his
name,
5 The joy, the shout, the harmony
Flies o'er the everlasting hills,

"Worthy art thou alone," they cry,
"To read the book, to loose the
seals."]
6 Our voices join the heavenly strain,
And with transporting pleasure
sing,
"Worthy the Lamb that once was slain,
"To be our teacher and
our king!"
7 His words of prophecy reveal
Eternal counsels, deep designs;
His
grace and vengeance shall fulfil
The peaceful and the dreadful lines.
8 Thou hast redeem'd our souls from hell
'With thine invaluable
blood;
And wretches that did once rebel
Are now made favourites
of their Cod.
9 Worthy for ever is the Lord,
That died for treasons not his own,

By every tongue to be ador'd,
And dwell upon his Father's throne.
Hymn 1:26.
Hope of heaven by the resurrection of Christ,
1 Peter 1.
3-5.
1 Bless'd be the everlasting God,
The Father of our Lord,
Be his
abounding mercy prais'd,
His majesty ador'd.
2 When from the dead he rais'd his Son,
And call'd him to the sky,


He gave our souls a lively hope
That they should never die.
3 What tho' our inbred sins require
Our flesh to see the dust!
Yet as
the Lord our Saviour rose,
So all his followers must.
4 There's an inheritance divine
Reserv'd against that day,
'Tis
uncorrupted, undefil'd,
And cannot waste away.
5 Saints by the power of God are kept
Till the salvation come;
We
walk by faith as strangers here
Till Christ shall call us home.
Hymn 1:27.
Assurance of heaven; or, A saint prepared to die,
2 Tim.
4. 6 7 8 18.
1 [Death may dissolve my body now,
And bear my spirit home;

Why do my minutes move so slow,
Nor my salvation come?
2 With heavenly weapons I have fought
The battles of the Lord,

Finish'd my course, and kept the faith,
And wait the sure reward.]
3 God has laid up in heaven for me
A crown which cannot fade;

The righteous Judge at that great day
Shall place it on my head.
4 Nor hath the King of grace decreed
This prize for me alone;
But
all that love and long to see
Th' appearance of his Son.
5 Jesus the Lord shall guard me safe
From every ill design;
And to
his heavenly kingdom keep
This feeble soul of mine.
6 God is my everlasting aid
And hell shall rage in vain;
To him be
highest glory paid,
And endless praise.--Amen.
Hymn 1:28.
The triumph of Christ over the enemies of his church,

Isa. 63. 1 2 3 &c.
1 What mighty man, or mighty God,
Comes travelling in state,


Along the Idumean road,
Away from Bozrah's gate?
2 The glory of his robes proclaim
'Tis some victorious king:
"'Tis I,
the just, th' Almighty One,
"That your salvation bring."
3 "Why, mighty Lord," thy saints enquire,
"Why thine apparel red?

"And all thy vesture stain'd like those
"Who in the wine-press tread?"
4 "I by myself have trod the press,
"And crush'd my foes alone,

"My wrath has struck the